Boasting a beautiful mix of stunning coastal locations, rolling rural countryside and the longest life expectancy in the UK, Dorset makes for a happy home to some 376,000 people. Nearly half of the county is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Combined with its picture-postcard villages, the vibrant towns of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorchester, Poole and Weymouth, this makes Dorset one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations to boot.
However, as beautiful, popular and picturesque as Dorset is, the county is nonetheless as susceptible to pest problems as anywhere else in the country. Rats in particular have a known presence, exploiting the abundance of food waste and dropped litter that consumers and food outlets leave behind in busy towns. Mice and cockroaches can also be a big problem for businesses. As such, pest control in Dorset is a critical issue and all business owners and operators in the county should seek commercial pest control contracts to protect their reputation and livelihood.
Pest Problems in Dorset
An infestation of rats can have a truly devastating impact on a business. Unfortunately, rats are known to be abundant in Dorset. In July this year, the Daily Echo reported the story of a number of local residents living near a children’s centre in Boscombe whose homes were suffering the “worst infestation” ever experienced in the area. One couple had returned from a holiday to find rats in their home, while another resident said she was being kept awake at night by the constant activity of the rats.
“I’ve been so stressed,” said one of the residents. “The rats got in underneath the roof tiles and have eaten all my loft insulation. I can hear them scratching and running up and down the drainpipes. They can literally eat their way through concrete.” Which is of serious concern for business owners in Dorset.
Given their propensity to chew through almost any material they find, rats can cause serious damage to buildings, machinery and equipment – not to mention soft materials like cardboard, packaging and, of course, food. This can lead to costs for business owners who do not take pest control seriously. Anything that rats and mice damage will either need to be repaired or replaced. What’s more, rats are carriers of a number of dangerous diseases – including salmonella, Weil’s disease and hantavirus – meaning they pose a serious health risk to staff and the general public.
The Boscombe event is not an isolated incident. In November last year, an enormous rat – 21 inches from nose to tail – was caught in Bournemouth, leaving many to conclude that the town’s known rat problem was getting worse.
Rats are not the only pest species causing issues in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district. In March, Bournemouth Council’s environmental health team found evidence of cockroaches and mice in an Indian restaurant and takeaway. A notice was taped to the door of the establishment, informing customers that there was a “risk of contamination of open food, work surfaces and equipment by cockroaches, mouse urine and mouse droppings.”
The restaurant had previously received a “good” hygiene rating from inspectors only a year before, showing clearly that pest control should be ongoing and that business owners should never be complacent. Like rats, mice also cause serious damage to foodstuffs and buildings and are carriers of bacteria and diseases that are harmful to humans. The same is true of cockroaches, which also carry a number of viruses and parasitic organisms such as tapeworms and roundworms.
These all amount to serious health hazards that business owners need to deal with on a constant basis. Pest control in Christchurch, Bournemouth and Dorset has never been more critical.
Pest Control Dorset – Baroque Pest Services
To eliminate the many threats imposed by pests, business owners in Dorset need to enlist pest control service professionals to ensure their establishments are kept pest-free at all times.
At Baroque Pest Services, we have over 30 years’ experience designing an implementing affordable pest control solutions for businesses in Dorset. We are renowned in the county as the number one choice for business owners looking for a fast and effective service that delivers peace of mind. Our service begins with a free consultation and risk assessment, after which we will tailor a bespoke pest control contract that suits your business’s precise needs.
Baroque Pest Services serves all kinds of industries including: Bars, Pubs, Cafés, Restaurants, Hotels and B&Bs, as well as Nursing Homes, Factories, Warehouses and Organic Farms. Contact your local pest control specialist today for a free quotation.
Baroque (SW) Limited was a family business established in October 1988 based in Plymouth. Over 30 years Baroque grew to become the most well-known regional pest control company in the South West of England before joining forces with Safeguard Pest Control in August 2018. As part of the Safeguard family, customers continue to receive exceptional pest control, bird control and washroom services. Every customer is important to us and we take pride in providing a top quality, reliable service. Our emphasis is on serving the customer to the best of our ability and building a long-term relationship of mutual trust and friendship. We have service technicians local to all areas of the South West Counties, so our customers can receive a prompt service from a technician who is familiar with the area and premises. Our experienced office staff are available from 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday to answer any customer queries and give advice.